Bottle-cleaning machine.



No. 694,372. Pafented-Mar. 4, I902.

- A. GOETZ.

BOTTLE CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 12. 1901.)

(No Model.)

Gum/14mg m: nonms PETERs cm. mom-umo. 'wAsnmmromp. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH GOETZ, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

BOTTLE-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,372, dated March 4:, 1902.

Application filed November 12, 1901. Serial No. 81,968. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADOLPH Gonrz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Cleaning Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in bottle-cleaning machines, and more particularly to such machines as are shown in my application for patent of the United States, SerialNo. 49,655, filed March 2, 1901, Bottlecleaning machines.

The object of my invention is to provide means for removing labels, tin-foil, and other insoluble matter from the soaking-tank and to provide the device with certain new and useful features hereinafter more f nlly described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

My device consists, essentially, in providing one or more brushes having projections adapted to be inserted in the bottle-holding mechanism, and thereby caused to traverse the bottom of the tank to sweep the insoluble material therein to one end of said tank, a suitable scoop to elevate the said insoluble matter above the tank, and means for operating the scoop, as hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in Which- I Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a soaking-tank having my device attached; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3-, an enlarged detail of the'bottle-holding means in vertical section; Fig. 4, a plan view of the same, and Fig. 5 a detail in front elevation of the brush for sweeping the bottom of the tank.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

A represents a portion of the tank for holding the soaking solution.

B B are the sprocket-chains in the tank, located near each side thereof and arranged parallel with the bottom of the tank. Extending transversely between the said chains and attached in fixed relation thereto is a suitable plate 0, on which plate are suitable springs G to engage one side of the necks of the bottles.

E E'are bars or ways at each end of the plate 0, having grooves in their adjacent sides, in which grooves is movably supported a plate D in the plane of the plate 0 and having rigid truncated conical segments F opposite each 6o spring G to engage the opposite side of the necks of the bottles.

These plates 0 and D have concave recesses in their adjacent edges opposite the springs and segments, through which recesses the bottles are inserted and in which they are supported at right angles to the plane of the plates. These plates are also held in closed relation by means of spring-actuated hooks H, pivoted on the plates 0 and engaging lugs I on the plates D.

K is a brush adapted to engage and traverse the bottom of the tank and sweep any sediment thereon to the end of the same. This brush is provided with bottle-shaped projections J, adapted to be inserted and held in the described bottle-holding mechanism. The edge of the plate 0 engages the rear side of the projections at a distance from the ends thereof, and the rigid segments F engage the forward side of the same near their ends. They thus provide a rigid support to sustain the brush in an upright position as it traverses the bottom of the tank. Whenever the brush has served its purpose, it is removed by releasing the hooks H from the lugs I. This permits the plate D to slide in the grooves of the bars and releases the brush. This is accomplished automatically in the device shown in a prior application for patent, be fore referred to, in which device the brush is released and passes into the rinsing-tank with the bottles. For removing the insoluble matter, which is swept to the end of the soakingtank by the described brush, I provide a suit- 5 able scoop P, preferably perforated to permit the escape of the soaking solution andattached to sprocket-chains O at each end, preferably by pivoting the corners of the scoop to said chains and supporting it in an ont- 10o wardly-extended relation thereto by bracerods Q. These chains at their upper parts engage sprocket-wheels N, mounted-011a shaft L, extending transversely above and across the tank and journaled in suitable hangers T. M is a crank to rotate the shaft and elevate the scoop. The lower portions of these chains 0 extend downward within the tank to near the bottom thereof and engage other sprocket-wheels N, journaled on studs L, attached to the respective sides of the tank. I

S is a receptacle for the matter removed by the scoop P. R is a suitable trough to convey the same from the scoop to the receptacle S.

From the foregoing the operation of my device will be readily understood without further description.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, bottle-holding means adapted to traverse the tank, and a brush having projections adapted to engage the bottle-holding means, substantially as described.

2. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, bottle-holding means adapted to traverse the tank, and means for sweeping the bottom of the tank adapted to be inserted in the bottleholding means and detachably held thereby, substantially as described.

3. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, bottle-holding means traversing the tank and adapted to engage the sides and neck of the bottles and hold the same, and a brush having bottle-shaped projections adapted to be held by said means, substantially as described.

4:. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, sprocket-chains parallel with the bottom of the tank, a plate attached to the chains in fixed relation thereto, a plate in movable relation to the first-named plate, means for retainingand releasing the movable plate,rigid, truncated, conical segments on one of the plates, springs on the other plate opposite the segments, and a brush having projections adapted to engage the springs and segments, and to be held thereby, substantially as described.

5. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, sprocket-chains parallel with the bottom of the tank, a brush having bottle-shaped projections, a plate attached to the chains and engaging the projections at one side and at a distance from the ends thereof, springs on the said plate to engage the projections, a second plate attached to the chains, and truncated, conical, segments attached to the said plate and engaging the projections at the other side opposite the springs, substantially as described.

6. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, a brush adapted to traverse the bottom of the tank, and a scoop adapted to elevate the insoluble matter gathered by the brush, substantially as described.

7. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, means for sweeping insoluble matter to one end of the tank, a scoop adapted to elevate the said matter to above the tank, a receptacle outside the tank, and a trough to convey said matter from the scoop to the receptacle, substantially as described 8. In a bottle-cleaning machine, the combination of a tank, means for sweeping insoluble matter to one end of the tank, a shaft above the tank, sprocket-wheels on the shaft, sprocket-Wheels in the tank, chains engaging the sprocket-wheels, a scoop attached to the chains, and means for rotating the shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a bottle-cleaning machine, the combination of a tank, bottle-holding means adapted to traverse the tank, a brush having projections adapted to engage the bottle-holding means, sprocket-chains extending above the tank andto near the bottom thereof, means for operating the said chains, and a scoop attached to the chains, substantially as described. I 10. In a bottle-cleaning machine, a tank, sprocket-chains traversing the tank and parallel to the bottom thereof, relatively fixed and movable plates attached to the said chains, springs on one of said plates, rigid, truncated, conical segments on the other of said plates, a brush having bottle-shaped projections adapted to engage the springs and segments, sprocket-chains near the end of the said tank, and extending from near the bottom thereof to above the same, a shaft and sprocket-wheels to operate the chains, and a scoop attached to the chains, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.-

ADOLPH GOETZ.

\Vitnesses:

LUTHER V. MOULTON, PALMER A. J ONES. 

